post February 11, 2025

It's a bit messy in my home office today (see photo below, let's celebrate creativity!) but outside it's perfectly peaceful and our woods are blanketed in snow, which makes the outside world SEEM so orderly, and still. 

I'm opening yesterday's mail and am delighted to find some handwritten letters addressed to a 'Mrs. Hilbish' with very polite requests for tiramisu and chocolate pudding at Cotillion.  This is very helpful, as I'm currently planning the menu, the venue, the seating, the meeting for March 14, 2025: our Spring Ball.  I'm getting excited!   

I also have enjoyed getting voicemail messages from students missing Cotillion for one reason or another.  Keep up the good work! Have them call me anytime! 

In the meantime, I thought I'd share what my reading inspiration (photo below) looks like this week as we approach Friday the 14th, Valentine's Day.  When Anna was in pre-school I really loved making valentines with her and decorating her lunches, her room, her clothes and EVERYTHING with lots of love and hearts galore!  I have had to adjust quite a bit now that she's in middle school, it's much more low-key but she still enjoys the chocolates, the goodies and the treats . . . who doesn't? 

I've been invited onto WDBJ Friday afternoon @3pm to talk with them on "Here at Home" about Valentine's etiquette, so if you're love-curious check it out! 

** DATES and TIMES ** for 2024 - 2025

All of our '24 - '25 Junior Cotillion events are held at the Shenandoah Club.

    class #4         1/24/25       Friday night 6:30 - 8PM 

    class #5         2/28/25       Friday night 6:30 - 8PM  

* Spring Ball *  March 14, 2025 from 7 until 9 o'clock in the evening   

Watch here for makeup dates, as needed 

2024-25 SENIOR ASSISTANTS: 

Emily Ngyuen, Northside High School, senior

Michelle Ochoa, Northside High School, senior 

2024-25 JUNIOR ASSISTANTS:

Lily Lenkowski, North Cross School

      Lydia, Cave Spring High School

Olivia, Cave Spring Middle

Abigail, home school

Purpose: To ensure the safety of students while learning to dance at Cotillion, all students must wear closed-toe shoes.

Acceptable types of shoes include low-heeled boots.

The following types of footwear are strictly prohibited:

• Flip flops
• Crocs
• Sandals
• High Heels
• Platform shoes

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure their footwear meets the requirements.

August 2024

This year in cotillion we'll focus more on  "Manners in Public"

ps. and what is on MY bookshelf this summer?